She's a graduate of Crystal Lake South High School and moved away 12 years ago, but is back in town visiting her parents and signing copies of her novel, "Watch Your Step at the Wishing Well."

A resident of Tacoma, Wash., Lisa Hudon's novel has been on the racks for 18 months. Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Book Club recently selected it as a must-read.

Hudon, a mother of three whose maiden name is Mottola, graduated from Crystal Lake South High School in 1984 and has a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Illinois.

At 2 p.m. Saturday she will be signing copies at Borders Books, 1540 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, and 2 p.m. August 21 at Borders Books, 2216 S. Randall Road, Algonquin.

"Watch Your Step at the Wishing Well" is a romantic-suspense novel, about naive Nichole, the teller of the story who was raised in the fictitious Illinois town of Oakwood Shores. Looking for adventure, she meets and marries Garry LaForge, a rock star who looks a lot like Kevin Costner. LaForge has to fight off grabby female fans wherever he goes, even when Nichole is at his side.

They move to Key West for the sand and coconuts and befriend Hunter Rayburn, a U.S. Navy aviator whom Hudon calls "the bad guy." Rayburn insinuates himself into the lives of the young couple and tries to drive them apart.

Nichole is torn. She wonders if she made a mistake stepping into the fast lane, leaving the safe and familiar Midwestern town where she grew up.

How do things turn out for Nichole and Garry the rock star? Read the book.